The Greek Evidence for Shem Yahuwah

The Greek Evidence for Shem Yahuwah

There are four main ways the Tetragrammaton Yahuwah appears in Greek manuscripts. It appears as a transliteration normally with the letter iota, alpha and omega, Iao, or as four Hebrew letters, YHVH or some other combination of Hebrew letters. In Hebrew terms it either appears in Aramaic square script or paleo Hebrew.Finally it is sometime completely replaced by Greek words such as Kurios, or Theos. The vital point about the evidence ragarding these occurences is the dating. The later the date the more likely Yahuwah will be replaced.

Chart of the Church Fathers and transliterations
Iaoo
Gnostic Aeon
Source Date Citation
Ireneaus Heresies I.30.5 2nd century Aeon generated by Ialdaboth: Ophite mythology
Ireneaus Heresies I.30.11 2nd century Sent certan prophets
Origen Against Celsus 6.31 3rd century Iao ...proote despota thanatou
Ireneaus Heresies I.4.I 2nd century Valentinian, ton horon kooluonta auteen toumprosthen hormees eipein Iao.
hothen to Iao onoma gegeneesthai paskousi.
Theodoret Heresies I.7 5th century en tooi prootooi ouranooi einai ton Iaoo arxonta
Iaoo
Signifying the name of God
4Q LXX Levb late 1st Cen
Eusebius Psalm 134 4th century Ia: tou...iaoo. tov kurion
Eusebius Psalm 146 4th century
Epiphanius Heresies 40.5 4th century
Pap. Chr (p403)
Iabee
Epiphanius Heresies 40.5 5th century to Ianee hos een kai estin ho aei hoon
Theodoret. qu.15 in Ex i.133 5th century kalousi...auto (sc. to tetragrammaton) Samaratai ..Iabee
Iaee
Origen sel.in. Ps 2:2 3rd century Iaee,. translated kurion in Ps 146:I
Iaoue
Clement Stomateis 5.6 3rd century ho methermeeneutai ho oon kai ho esomenos

Bibliography:
Lampe, G. W., A Patristic Greek Lexicon (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1964)
Chart of All Greek Textual Evidence
Iaoo
Gnostic Aeon
Source Date Citation or further information
Ireneaus Heresies I.30.5 2nd cent CE Aeon generated by Ialdaboth: Ophite mythology
Ireneaus Heresies I.30.11 2nd cent CE Sent certan prophets
Origen Against Celsus 6.31 3rd cent CE Iao ...proote despota thanatou
Ireneaus Heresies I.4.I 2nd cent CE Valentinian, ton horon kooluonta auteen
toumprosthen hormees eipein Iao.
hothen to Iao onoma gegeneesthai paskousi.
Theodoret Heresies I.7 5th cent CE en tooi prootooi ouranooi einai ton Iaoo arxonta
Iaoo
Signifying the name of God
4Q LXX Levb late 1st C BCE Dated by CH Roberts
Lev 4:27 toon entoloon Iaoo
Lev 3.12 final omega and much of alpha. Four broke
papyrus columns reconstruct well with the same
reading
Diodorus of Sicily I.94.2 1st cent BCE ton Iaoo epikaloumenon theon
Eusebius Psalm 134 4th century Ia: tou...iaoo. tov kurion
Eusebius Psalm 146 4th century
Epiphanius Heresies 40.5 4th century
Pap. Chr (p403)
Iabee
Epiphanius Heresies 40.5 5th century to Ianee hos een kai estin ho aei hoon
Theodoret. qu.15 in Ex i.133 5th century kalousi...auto (sc. to tetragrammaton) Samaratai ..Iabee
Iaee
Origen sel.in. Ps 2:2 Migne text 3rd century Iaee,. translated kurion in Ps 146:I
Of commentary
Iaoue
Clement Stromateis 5.6 3rd century ho methermeeneutai ho oon kai ho esomenos





Kurios
Origen 3rd cent Testifies of Jewish 3rd cent practice of rendering
Tetragram as kurios
Pre Christian Aramaic Literature
Letters of Aristeas the Lord never occurs
Third and second century BC the Lord never occurs
Authors in Eusebius
Greek Apocryphon 1st cent BC kurios employed frequently
Wisdom of Solomon 1st cent BC kurios employed frequently
Philo 1st cent AD kurios occurs in Philo
Josephus 1st cent AD kurios occurs in Josephus